UNESCO International Arts Education Week

WAAE Press Release 15 May 2012

UNESCO International Arts Education Week

On the 23 May 2012 the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) will launch the inaugural International Arts Education Week (21-27 May, 2012) at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. This high profile event includes a symposium and official ceremony officiated by Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director General  for Culture, UNESCO and Mrs Park Jae–Eun, President, Korea Arts Culture Education Service (KACES). The World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE) will be represented by Assoc. Professor Ralph Buck, Chair, Executive Council, WAAE, who will moderate one of the symposium panels. The symposia will focus on the implementation of the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education, and profiling cultural diversity in and through arts education.

International Arts Education Week was proposed to UNESCO in 2009 by the Executive Council of the World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE). The WAAE is an alliance between the International Drama/Theatre Education Association (IDEA), International Society for Education through Art (InSEA), International Society for Music Education (ISME) and World Dance Alliance (WDA). Advocacy by the WAAE and the Korean Arts and Culture Education Service (KACES) was rewarded when the 36 Session of the General Conference of UNESCO agreed to three resolutions that recognise the importance of arts education in fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion. The three resolutions were:

1. Adopt and support the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education
2. Designate the fourth week of May as International Arts Education Week
3. Support a third world conference on arts education

Please go to the following website for further information regarding UNESCO arts education policies
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/creativity/arts-education/.

International Arts Education Week aims to raise international community’s awareness of the importance of arts education. To be celebrated in the 4th week of May every year, International Arts Education Week will honour and celebrate arts education in diverse societies and cultures. Key stakeholders in arts education such as teachers, parents, children, arts education associations, artists, civil servants, researchers and government authorities may value this week for showcasing practices, traditions, innovations, projects and research highlighting the integral role the arts and arts education play in diverse communities.
The WAAE will value its vast international networks and annually advocate for International Arts Education Week. The WAAE calls upon all arts education stakeholders to celebrate the inaugural launch of International Arts Education Week, 23 May 2012, and to see the fourth week of May as a time for annual celebrations of arts education.

 For further information contact WAAE Executive Council members:
International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA)
(Patrice Baldwin) patrice.baldwin1@gmail.com

International Society for Education through Art (InSEA)
(Rita Irwin) rita.irwin@ubc.ca

International Society for Music Education (ISME)
(Margaret Barrett) m.barrett@uq.edu.au

World Dance Alliance (WDA)
(Ralph Buck) r.buck@auckland.ac.nz